Usman Khawaja has teed off at Queensland cricket officials but still wants to play in the Sheffield Shield final

Test star Usman Khawaja was Queensland captain last season but didn’t hold back as a simmering feud with state officials exploded ahead of the Sheffield Shield final.

Angry Test opener Usman Khawaja has slammed leading Queensland Cricket official Joe Dawes, claiming he lied in saying the Test opener didn’t have the hamstring injury that the veteran batsman gave as the reason for missing the Bulls’ crucial Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.

Having played in Queensland’s previous match against Tasmania, Khawaja declared himself unavailable for the following week’s game against South Australia, a match which would help determine whether the Bulls made the Shield final.

Khawaja later posted on social media about his hamstring injury after being disappointed by suggestions he didn’t want to play in the match in Adelaide.

Without Khawaja, the Bulls drew the game, which was enough to reach next week’s decider.



Usman Khawaja and his wife Rachel went to the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne instead of playing against South Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

However, a rift seems to have developed with the Bulls organisation after Dawes, Queensland Cricket’s head of elite cricket, said “there was no reason” why Khawaja could not have played in the drawn match and insisted Queensland’s medical staff had declared Khawaja available for selection.

“That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well - no hamstring issues as far as we are concerned,” Dawes said.

“I go off our medical staff and there is no reason why he could not have played the last game.

“It’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to.

“I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play. I think we are disappointed he did not play the game against South Australia.

“Hopefully he will make that decision to make himself available for next week (for the final) and we will make that decision on Friday.‘’

An angry Khawaja addressed Dawes comment on Friday.

Usman Khawaja made a century for Queensland his last Sheffield Shield match (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“For me, the most disappointing thing was, I try to keep this as in house as possible behind the scenes ­- it’s obviously not anymore,” Khawaj said.

“Joe Dawes came out the other day and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing to me as a player, and after that, I just felt like I had to speak up and say something, and give my side a story.

“The first and foremost thing was Joey said that the medical staff had no idea. That is 100 per cent wrong.

“I’ve talked to both (Queensland) physios. I’ve talked to the Australian physio. I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. It’s on AMS, our athlete management system. My hammy (injury) is reported. Everything is there. Everyone knew about it.

“That was probably one of the most shocking things I heard said. It was really disappointing, because it’s categorically untrue, so I just wanted to clear that up. (They) 100 per cent knew about my hammy injury.

“People always want to come at me, about not playing this game, not playing that game, but I don’t do anything without talking to Cricket Australia first. Cricket Australia always have final say.

“We discuss, they tell me what they think I should do, and then we go out and actually do it.

“I’m 38 years old. I can’t burn the candle at both ends. I do have to look after myself in some respect, and Queensland cricket do know that.”